Buckle



June 28,1949- L. c. scHMlTH 2,474,372

y BUCKLE Filed Feb. 12, 1946 LESTER C. scm-www4,v

www I@ Patented June 28, 1949 UNITED STATES PATENT FFICE BUCKLE Lester C. Schmith, Sacramento, Calif. vApplication February 12, 1946, Serial No. .647,089

2 Claims.

The present invention relates to buckles and is more particularly concerned with a separate buckle and tongue especially adaptable to wrist watches and belts.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a buckle and tongue which will quickly and readily interlock and yet be detachable Aat will by pressure on the frontal plate of the buckle.

A further object of the invention is to provide a buckle and tongue of simpler and more compact construction than prior devices.

With the foregoing and other objects and advantages in View the invention consists of the novel construction and arrangement of parts hereinafter described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawing illustrating the invention- Figure 1 is a side elevation of the buckle and tongue assembly partly in section.

Figure 2 is a transverse section on line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a longitudinal section of the buckle taken substantially on the plane of the line 3-3 of Figure 2, but showing the parts differently positioned.

Figure 4 is a side elevation of 4the tongue.

Figure 5 is a top plan View of the tongue.

Like numerals are used in the description and drawing to designate the same parts of construction.

The buckle case I may be fiat or slightly curved, as desired, and is formed with a bottom 2, a top 3 and perpendicular sides I1, as viewed in the drawing. It is preferably open at each end. Bottom 2 is extended a suitable distance from one end,

to forma keeper II with a transverse bolt or pin 5 to which is adapted to be fastened one end of a wrist watch strap or a belt.

The top 3 of the case I intermediate the sides I'I and inwardly of one end thereof is formed to provide an aperture 9 therethrough. A leaf spring In is secured to the under side of the top 3 adjacent the aperture 9 by one end I8 of such spring. The leaf spring IIl extends longitudinally of the case I and is inclined downwardly toward the bottom 2 0f the case. Such downwardly inclined end I9 of the spring III underlies the aperture 9 of the top 3. An upstanding pin 3 has its lower end secured in any suitable manner to the upper surface of the spring I Il adjacent the free end I9 thereof. The upper end of the pin 8 is secured in any suitable manner to the under surface of a frontal plate 1 for the buckle. The frontal plate 1 overlies the top 3 of the Icase I, and one end thereof is pivoted to the case I by any suitable pivot means 6 extending transversely through the side walls I1 adjacent one end thereof. An opposite end portion I5 of the plate 1 extends 1ongitudinally outwardly beyond the corresponding end of the case I to provide a tongue to facilitate lifting of the plate 1. The side edges of the plate 1 are formed with depending flanges I6 adapted to overlie upper side portions of the side walls l1 of the case. The spring Ill is biased so as to normally retain the plate 1 in the Figure 1 position, but permits lifting of the `same to the slightly raised Figure 3 position for a purpose to be described presently.

The tongue II is at or curved to conform to the shape of the buckle case I and is preferably rectangular. It is provided with a keeper I2 and pin I3 similar to the belt or strap fastening means on the case. The top of the tongue is provided longitudinally with a field I4, having ratchet-like teeth, which may be formed by stamping or other- Wise so as to be positioned above the surface or below, as shown. The tongue II may be inserted in case I in one direction so that the ratchet field I4 thereof contacts and rides under .the lower end I9 of the spring I0. However, wi-thdrawal of the tongue I I is prevented by the ratchet engagement of the free end I9 of the spring with the ratchet field I4. Thus, when the buckle is tightened to suit the wearer, the tongue I I is held fast within the buckle case. To release it, the frontal plate I is raised suiiiciently by its free end I5 from the Figure 1 to the Figure 3 position to disengage the spring blade or detent I0 from the ratchet teeth, when the tongue may be withdrawn, as indicated in Figure 3. Upon release of the frontal plate 1, the spring I0 returns it from the Figure 3 position to the Figure 1 position.

This buckle and its tongue may be constructed of metal or plastics, and any size to suit the use. If desired, the parts may be stamped from metal and readily assembled.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a buckle for wrist watch straps or the like, including an open-ended case having bottom, top and side walls, a separate tongue slidable in said case along said bottom wall, and a field of ratchet teeth formed on an upper surface of said tongue; said upper surface of said tongue and said field being downwardly spaced from s aid top wall, a leaf spring having one end fixed to said top wall, a free end of said spring bein-g inclined downwardly to a position to engage said ratchet field, a cover plate for said case overlying said top wall, means connecting said plate and case to permit upward movement of said plate relative to said case, and said means including a rigid connection between said plate and said free end of said spring whereby upward movement of said plate is operative to raise the said free end or :said spring above the plane of said ratchet eld.

2. In a buckle for Wrist Watch straps or the like, including an open-ended case having bottom, top and side Walls, a separate tongue slidable in said case along said bottom wall, and a eld of ratchet teeth formed on an upper surface of said tongue; said upper surface of said tongue and said eld being downwardly spaced from said top wall, a leaf spring having one end xed to said top wall, a free end of said4` spring being inclined downwardly to a position to engage said ratchet` eld, a cover plate for said case overlying said top wall, `means connecting said plate and case to permit upward movement of said plate rela- REFERENCES CITED 'The following references are of record in the I, file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,590,063 Schillerstrom J an. 22, 1926 1,627,776 Haumerson May 10, 1927 1,663,621 Bowman Mar. 27, 1928 1,887,825 Statham Nov, 15, 1932 2,171,448 Holtz Aug. 29, 1939 

